By: Ina Steiner

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This question came in from a reader: "If you list something local pickup and it sells, and the buyer pays but does not pick up within your shipping framework timing, does that count against your DSR on shipping time?"

But since eBay has no way of knowing when a buyer picks up an item for Local Pickup, does it matter if the buyer doesn't pick up the item in a timely manner? The only way to get tracking is if you ship the item through a shipping carrier with a service that offers tracking.

eBay doesn't appear to directly address the impact of local pickup on seller performance, and the reader said he couldn't find an answer to his question on eBay or by searching Google.

However, the following information is found on eBay's seller performance help page, "You'll be recognized for on-time shipping if tracking shows your item was either shipped within the stated handling time or delivered by the estimated delivery date. If there's no tracking available, we'll check with your buyer. If your buyer confirms the item was delivered on time - you'll be recognized for on-time shipping."

What do you think of Local Pickup, and do you have tactics for protecting your seller performance metrics when offering it to shoppers?

by: angryllama

Sun Jul 23 16:14:30 2017

Seems to me to be ALL DOWNSIDE and NO UPSIDE. I won't be offering it even though I've done it successfully about 4 times in the past. All of those events went well, but the LIST of ways it could have gone SIDEWAYS makes it NOT worth it. I'm even in a GREAT PLACE for it to happen has there are 5,000,000 plus souls here in the Houston Metro area.Actually the last time I did a local pick up I DELIVERED the DVDs to the buyer AND also used HER PAYMENT to be sure I mailed her a "dummy envelope" using First Class Package Rate. That way eBay's bots would be satisfied about Shipment with Tracking and DELIVERY with tracking.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: FeelingFroggy

Sun Jul 23 16:38:01 2017

WE live in the sticks, miles away from anywhere......There is no way in that hot place we would allow a pick up at our home....To many nuts running around looking for a place to rob. No way, we like our peace and quite..

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: Ming the Merciless

Sun Jul 23 17:14:10 2017

Well stated angryllama!

Another instance of a nebulous ebafia 'policy' that likely would be selectively applied.

I can see it now. Ebafia asks the buyer if the item arrived on time when in fact buyer picked it up on time or otherwise. In the unverifiable vacuum, buyer tells ebay the item "arrived late" and keeps the item.

No thanks, ebafia. Another idea whose purpose originally was to improve customer service that now has the potential if not the reality to destroy a seller.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: TomH

Sun Jul 23 19:20:17 2017

Back in the early days of eBay 98-2002 when we had a retail store also, we did a lot of local pickup. Especially during the time when we were selling off a 12000+ lighter collection for a customer. All very collectible in the early days when what was mainly local collectible sales became national and world wide. By enabling or saying local pickup available would result often in anywhere from 3 or 4 to 10 or so additional items being sold in shop.

Today? Hell no! Even if I knew that you lived next door..... it will get mailed or ups'd.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: toolguy

Sun Jul 23 19:50:00 2017

No Problem!

I do it all the time on Craigslist and get at least 1 or 2 each year on eBay.

I take CASH on pickup. . .

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: iheartjacksparrow

Sun Jul 23 20:37:12 2017

As an in-home business, my city business license forbids me from conducting business out of my home since I am zoned residential, not commercial. And I know we've discussed this issue here before, with the consensus being that it was overall not safe to invite people you don't know to your house to pick up valuable items. I agree with TomH: you live next door, you will get your item tomorrow in the mail.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: Volvo351

Sun Jul 23 20:42:24 2017

For ANYTHING heavy, bulky, or EXPENSIVE, you MUST list 'local pickup' to protect yourself. And, of course, you can't take PayPig, you have to take CASH, since you have no tracking. And if you're going to do that, you might as well sell it on Craig's.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: ox-mix

Mon Jul 24 01:12:47 2017

If someone picks up an item, what proof of delivery does the seller have since there is no delivery confirmation? Or did I miss something here? Even if a pickup is paid for via cash, eBay can still withdraw funds from a seller's account should the buyer claim that he didn't pick it up nor was it delivered. Overall, pickup is just as risky as the Global Shipping Program, which I also never use.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: marcello

Mon Jul 24 02:33:51 2017

It is a time consuming, unprofitable inconvenience to do pick-ups. I have had enough negative experiences with it in the past so that I no longer accommodate these requests. Buyers have no problem with making appointments and not showing up on time, constantly changing appointment days and times and in many cases not showing up at all. One pick-up can take up several hours of your time. How is it worth it to have to plan your day around one sale and then still have to pay fees on the shipping anyway? If the item is paid for with Paypal the buyer can then say they never received it. Paypal will refund them even if you have the buyer sign a receipt.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: Chicago48

Mon Jul 24 03:04:24 2017

I never understood that local pickup option. I don't think any other etailer offers local pickup. Was local pickup always there from the beginning?

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: HardWorkingSeller

Mon Jul 24 05:12:07 2017

It won't count against your metrics on eBay provided that the listing is set up to allow local pick up and the buyer selects that option at checkout. eBay says that they won't entertain a SNAD case for a pick up item as the buyer is deemed to have inspected the item at the time of collection. Not sure that this necessarily will be the case also with PayPal or a CC recharge, though. You may be exposed to an INR case through PP if the buyer has a change of heart.

As a personal preference I don't so this unless the $ involved makes it worth the considerable hassle (and modest risk). People these days seem incapable of being at a given place at a specific time, and often expect you to drop everything to talk them in turn by turn via phone, which I won't do. In nearly all cases the cost of shipping the item locally is a lot less than the opportunity cost of my professional time dealing with the buyer.

My items are all pre-packed so I don't save anything on that front. I usually offer free shipping and I'd rather pay that cost than have to deal with a pick up buyer.

Also pick up buyers think that you're going to provide them with a retail type experience where they can open the package power up the item, get coaching on how it works while they do testing etc etc. I just want them to hand over cash and walk away with the package.

Also there are security and HOA concerns as mentioned above.

Generally I think it's best avoided unless you're sure that it's a business model that works in your situation, or at least grant the request on an individual case basis where you determine that it's worthwhile to you.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: spooky

Mon Jul 24 09:59:28 2017

the question is not if you think local pickup is a good or bad idea for whatever reason. I only offer it on huge impossible (or near impossible) to pack items like furniture. the question is does it affect your DSR's in feedback if the buyer does not pick up in a timely manner? There is no clear answer listed anywhere.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: toolguy

Mon Jul 24 10:19:15 2017

@ox-mix

"Even if a pickup is paid for via cash, eBay can still withdraw funds from a seller's account should the buyer claim that he didn't pick it up nor was it delivered."

NEVER HAPPEN! ~ IMPOSSIBLE

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: Barbbie

Mon Jul 24 10:36:05 2017

In the old ebay days, people would pick up often or I would meet them and deliver or just leave it at their door but would not want to do it today due to risky metrics application. I have it on very few items on ebay now and will not be listing more with it. I have it available on my website. I find I have to contact people several times to come and get the purchased and paid for items (I don't deliver). So that probably would be much the same on ebay sales. When they do come in (I have a warehouse) they want to look around and they sometimes spend lots of time visiting and browsing (I try to get them to let me bring it to their car for them to avoid this as mostly this happens during peak seasons). Although sometimes they do bring someone who needs something or they see something else and I get an extra sale. For those who want to come and look without prior sale, I tell them upfront before the appointment that I do not have cash so they need to bring a credit card or exact change if they pay onsite and I always have someone else there with me for all appointments.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: Barbbie

Mon Jul 24 10:44:27 2017

I don't see how paypal can take the money out of your account for something not paid with paypal or a credit card to charge back. Ebay can only charge your account - they cannot take it out of paypal if there is no refund associated with it. If the buyer claims an issue that is escalated I guess, but non-delivery without payment on paypal seems unlikely to work and if they then request a return then they have admitted they have it. I think this will be one of those times you leave the request open and arrange to take it back via messages.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: comments

Mon Jul 24 12:03:44 2017

My items are very expensive so local pick up is a security risk and I don't allow it. I did once allow someone to pick up a car I sold for obvious reasons. The car was picked up by a dealer who was paying some scumbag to drive it back to their state. Said scumbag urinated in the middle of my yard in front of my family. I was absolutely shocked but they were nice people otherwise and they brought cash.

We sell antique furniture and we allow, no, we Encourage local pickup. Had one just last week. Super nice older couple that were renovating an 1830s farmhouse. They even paid with PayPal. I had them sign that the item was accepted as received and went on.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: FEEbay

Mon Jul 24 13:33:15 2017

I live in a fairly densely populated area, and also have a retail store... that' said, I don't care if an EBay buyer lives around the corner.., it is getting shipped with tracking... end of story...

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: mcposty

Mon Jul 24 13:37:29 2017

It's only good if cash is involved otherwise don't do it since there is no tracking details.

Should eBay Sellers Avoid or Embrace Local Pickup?

by: Whatever

Mon Jul 24 21:14:02 2017

It's all UP for me - I send the buyer directly to our brick and mortar for pickup - we have a copy of the ebay invoice - check hi/her ID and have them sign our copy - never had a problem PLUS they generally go shopping while there! This store has been open for 7 years and people still say they never knew it was there and they will tell their friends. How do you like them apples ebay? Your so scared us sellers are cheating you out of a buck - gotcha

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